Ok, so we did not leave, so here are the last 4 days.

0402
This morning we went to the fresh fruit and vegetable market just around the corner. It is mostly a wholesale market, but some of the guys sell direct to the public as well. We loaded up with various bits and pieces of really fresh and good looking fruit for once, and found some sorrel, which Mum tells me is wild spinach, which was interesting. We wanted some avos at the last stall we visited, but we could only buy them in boxes of 12, which was a bit too much for us. The guys were so apologetic that they could not assist us, that they then proceeded to GIVE us an entire bag of apples - and no, there was no cost.. yet another super friendly Brazilean at work. amazing... Had fresh vegetable stir fry for lunch, nyumm - the sorrell works well.

Ok, so the parcel did not arrive with Andrew's book, so we did not leave. Looks like we may be here another week! Oh well, it is giving everyone a chance to completely catchup with life, communications, photos, blogs and thesis writing - (that's Dael's department) , which is great. At least then these things are easier to maintain once they are up to date. As much as I think everybody is ready to move on, it would have been a bit of a last minute rush to leave tomorrow, so probably better things worked out as they did.

Today, Vittoria the 50 foot Bavaria with her 3 crew incuding Henry from Uruguay who lived in Cape Town for 21 years - left to go North. And Azul, the 36 foot steel self build with 2 Argentinians arrived - going South. Oscar and Omar on Azul are very sweet, though the language barrier is a bit of a challenge. And Oscar has already given Lucy a gift of his daughter's teddy bear. His daughter's are 23, 25 and 28, and this bear has been on the boat since they were children and sailed with him. So this was a very precious gift. Lucy behaved accordingly, screamed with delight, and buried her face in the bear. So the gift was received with appropriate aplomb!

We went across to Azul for a social visit, and while below, were beckoned by Renato, who arrived bearing yet another gift for Lucy, of a cake! Such a lucky young lady, so loved by her world, it is really special to be around her and watch her world react! I think we may have to help her with the cake a little, as I think a whole cake may be just a little too much for her for breakfast.

0302
Lady Genyr , the 100 ft, 4 storey motor cruiser has returned. They have had a rough few days of it, they were headed for Punto del Este, but the weather (that we were sitting here, waiting out) was so bad that they port was closed and they could not get in. So they were anchoring - or trying to anchor, this huge unstable motor cruiser in 40 knots of wind. It sounds like the boat was being thrown about with some vigour. the crew all sounded very relieved to be on dry land. Andrew decided we should go out and treat ourselves to a steak with the crew. GOOD CALL - we found a really good restaurant serving great steaks. Supper with the crew was great, of course Madame Lucy holding fort, keeping everybody entertained as usual. The skipper Alex and his lovely partner Gabby were sharing some great skippering and cruising tales, all of which are of great interest to us newby cruisers.

0202
Today is a public holiday in Rio Grande, we are not sure if this is only a local public holiday, for the town, the state, or maybe the whole country?! It is the holiday to honour Yamanja, who is the goddess who delivers those at sea home safely. This morning Lauro arrived at the boat, to ask us to a churrasco barbeque. So at 12:30 we arrived for the barbeque, which proved to be delicious - though I think any meat that is vaguely decent qualifies on the delicious stakes on our under undermeated palates. We ate like kings, with excellent sausage, brisket, ribs and other steak cuts being cooked Brazilean style by our Churrasco King, Jamie.

After we had eaten, a second round of people - staff from the Lauro establishment, arrived en masse for a second round of churrasco. Following lunch, Lauro announced that we were off in 35 minutes to the boat parade. Well ok, we are there! How awesome, so the crew was piled into yet another of Lauro's fleet of boats, and off we motored across the lagoon! We had no idea what we were about to encounter. Close to 500 fishing boats of all shape, size, colour and description were making their way to pay homage and honour Yamanja, and I have no doubt, to subsequently celebrate with an enormous Brazilean style party. The spectacle was amazing, boats done up to the nines, with flags, flowers and streamers of all colours billowing in the wind. Some boats were towing mini boat effigies that were later to be sacrificed to the sea. Families spilling out of fishing boats. Boats with new coats of paints specially for the occasion. Tiny boats, huge boats, tug boats, long boats, short boats, rubber boats, sailing boats, motor boats, new boats and old boats, they were all there. This only happens once a year, this is year 170, and we had happened to be lucky enough to have missed the wind, and even luckier to be staying with such a wonderful host, who has shown us this fantastic celebration. What a great day.

0102
Tonight we had supper with the most interesting fellow, a Uruguayan - whose name is Henry. He arrived a day ago, and is the skipper of a 50 foot Bavaria Vittoria. He has the owner, Eduardo, and another crew member Martin onboard. As well as being Uruguayan, he also happens to have lived in Cape Town, our home, for 21 years - small world! He has given us some fantastic contacts in Uruguay, including a baby sitter for Lucy, somewhere to get repairs done to the boat, someone to drink beer, and good places to eat. What more could one need! Henry is quite remarkable, being a sprightly 72, and one of the top in his game of leather garment manufacture in Uruguay. He was sharing a story of how he improved a factory's production by simply moving he layout of the workman, to which I chirped, "Ah, Henry Ford", " Yes", he answered, " He was my father's role model, I was named after him." He apparently brought his knowledge to Cape Town for the small industry there, but unfortunately met with some business sharks, so set his trade back to the winds, and is now only involved in boats, for better or for worse.